Window Rock, AZ -- Navajo Nation President Ben Shelly in an historic
event Tuesday, April 26 signed an Executive Order protecting employees
and the public on the Navajo Nation from exposure to commercial tobacco smoke
in all workplaces and public places.

The primary goal is to improve the health of Navajo people while respecting
traditional practices and ceremonies associated with traditional tobacco use.
Today President Shelly fulfilled his campaign promise and established a commercial
tobacco free environment in all workplaces and public places within the Navajo
Nation. Secondhand smoke increases the risk of heart disease, asthma, lung and
other cancers, and has been classified by the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) as a Group A carcinogen. There is no safe level of exposure to
secondhand smoke and ventilation technology does not ensure protection from
secondhand smoke and its health-related illnesses.

The use of commercial tobacco products will be prohibited in indoor public
places and workplaces, and within 25 feet of entrances so as to prevent secondhand
smoke from entering those areas.

Each day hundreds if not thousands of Navajo people are involuntarily
exposed to chemicals that we know are harmful. It is the duty of the Navajo
Nation President to put the health of our people first. This executive order
will assure that our peoples health is protected said Ben Shelly,
the President of the Navajo Nation.

Every person on the Navajo Nation has the right to breathe
smoke-free air in public and work places, said Dr. Nez-Henderson. She
added, The Navajo people stand firmly behind President Shelly in their
support of a strong tobacco-free policy. A poll conducted in 2009 indicated
that 91% of Navajo people support making workplaces free from commercial
tobacco use, with no exemption for casinos. TEAM Navajo never
stopped fighting for the health of all Navajo people because no workers should
be left behind.

TEAM Navajo is a coalition of health advocates and organizations working to
pass strong tobacco-free policy to protect the health of the people of the Navajo
Nation for the past four years, taking commercial tobacco out of all workplaces
and indoor public places on the Navajo Nation while respecting traditional tobacco
use